Tag: Ministry of Justice

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 9 October 2026.

Kent prison to gain nearly 250 extra places as part of largest prison expansion since Victorian era.

• HMP Elmley adds new houseblock to keep streets safer
• New cells will provide 247 places to lock up dangerous criminals
• Latest boost to prison capacity as Government ensures country never runs out of jail space again

Nearly 250 new places at HMP Elmley have been completed as part of the largest prison expansion programme since the Victorian era.

With its first prisoners expected in the coming weeks, the new houseblock comes equipped with modern security features such as reinforced windows to tackle threats like drones carrying contraband.

A new workshop has also been added, providing prisoners with the training and skills they need to get a job on release and turn their backs on crime for good.

The new places form part of the Government’s commitment to deliver 14,000 additional prison places by 2031 – backed by £4.7 billion of investment – to ensure the country never runs out of jail space again after prison places increased by just 500 net spaces in the 14 years to July 2024.

Catherine McKinnell, Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reoffending, said:

This new houseblock at Elmley is another example of this Government getting prison places built and making sure there is always space to lock up dangerous offenders.

It features modern security measures designed to counter threats such as drones, as well as a new workshop to support rehabilitation and help reduce reoffending.

We inherited prisons on the brink of collapse, but our decisive action will keep our streets safe and create a prison system with the capacity it needs for the future.

Meanwhile, £110 million is being brought forward to speed up construction of hundreds of prison places, including by converting existing space such as unused offices, laundries and storage areas into cells.

This is alongside action to boost capacity by removing foreign national offenders more quickly and addressing the historic injustice of Imprisonment for Public Protection sentences in a way that balances fairness and public safety.

Further information

• HMP Elmley is a Category B/C local and resettlement prison for adult men, located on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent.
• The houseblock will add 247 places to the prison.
• The Government has committed to delivering 14,000 additional prison places by 2031, with around 3,300 delivered since July 2024.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 5 October 2026.

Victims and survivors of domestic abuse will be better protected as new measures come into force today (Monday 5 October), which require courts to make a formal record when domestic abuse was a factor in offending.

• For the first time, courts will formally record when an offence involved domestic abuse. 
• New marker will help police, prisons and probation better identify and manage perpetrators and protect victims.  
• Latest step in the government’s mission to halve violence against women and girls.

Victims and survivors of domestic abuse will be better protected as new measures come into force today (Monday 5 October), which require courts to make a formal record when domestic abuse was a factor in offending.  

Domestic abuse is already recognised as an aggravating factor in a wide range of offences, such as assault or stalking, but until now there has been no consistent way to record this once an offender is convicted. This makes it harder to identify abusers; manage the risks they pose and identify patterns of repeat offending.  

Under the new measures, the courts must now state in open court when an offence involved domestic abuse, creating for the first time a single, clear court record that can be shared across the criminal justice system. This will ensure perpetrators are identified and managed more effectively by enabling more tailored interventions to address abusive behaviour.  

Minister for Victims and Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls and International Justice, Alex Davies-Jones said: 

Too many victims have suffered because patterns of abusive behaviour have not always been recognised across the justice system. 

This is an important step towards better identifying dangerous perpetrators, protecting victims and delivering on our commitment to halve violence against women and girls.” 

Andrea Simon, London’s Victims’ Commissioner, said:

As a panel member of the Independent Sentencing Review, I was committed to ensuring domestic abuse flags were enshrined in law through the Sentencing Act. This is so the context of an offence could be formally recorded and protections for victims of abuse could be strengthened. I am therefore, pleased to see these measures being implemented in practice. Within the context of early prison releases, it is vital that justice agencies can effectively identify and respond to the risks posed by domestic abuse perpetrators and put the right interventions in place to protect victims from further harm.

Court flags will be shared with relevant partners and agencies, and be visible on police, probation and prison digital systems. This will give frontline staff a clearer picture of an offender’s history, helping them assess and manage risk effectively and better identify repeat domestic abuse offenders 

More widely, victims are being supported through a new Victim Support helpline, funded as part of an £18 million support package, while the Prime Minister has blocked offenders convicted of rape, serious child sexual offences and grooming from benefiting from upcoming sentencing changes.  

Victims will also be better protected through the expansion of electronic monitoring, including world-first restriction zones designed to keep the highest-risk offenders away from those they have harmed. 

Dame Nicole Jacobs, Domestic Abuse Commissioner, said:  

This marks a step change in our ability to track domestic abuse perpetrators through the criminal justice system – something I have long called for.

Not only will it enable us to better identify and respond to harmful behaviour, but it will also help ensure victims receive the right level of support they need, while giving us a clearer picture of how pervasive domestic abuse is within our justice system.

That insight is crucial if we are to better protect victims and hold perpetrators to account.

Further information

• The Judicial Finding of Domestic Abuse was introduced by the Sentencing Act 2026. It has also been included in the Criminal Procedure Rules, making it obligatory for the courts to implement. The judicial finding will apply when an offence involved domestic abuse (as defined by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021) carried out by the offender. 
• The Judicial Finding of Domestic Abuse will only apply in the Criminal Court. 
• The finding will be recorded as a formal court result at the point of sentencing. 
• The reforms form part of wider action to improve outcomes for victims and survivors, including: 
• Introduced domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres in selected areas. Specialists can support first responders to assess the risk and make sure there is an appropriate response. 
• The CPS and NPCC have launched the ‘Domestic Abuse Joint Justice Plan’, which brings police and prosecution expertise together – for a stronger, more co-ordinated approach to investigating and charging domestic abuse. 
• Improved access to civil legal aid for domestic abuse victims by extending the equity disregard for the main residence. 
• Expanding the Pathfinder pilots in family courts, which are helping to ensure that children’s voices are heard in each case, reducing their trauma, and providing more access to specialist support. 
• The rollout of the Domestic Abuse Protection Orders in selected areas. This puts tough restrictions on abusers and can include orders for behaviour change programmes. 
• Considering how to expand the use of specialist domestic abuse courts.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 4 October 2026.

Victims will get the fast and fair justice they deserve under changes to court reforms, the Justice Secretary has announced today.

• Plans for some criminal trials to be heard by judge alone to be scrapped under changes to court reforms
• Wider changes to criminal courts to cut the record number of cases waiting to be heard will be fast-tracked
• ‘Victims will not be waiting endlessly for justice’ Justice Secretary pledges

Plans for some criminal trials to be heard by judge alone will be scrapped, meaning more serious cases will continue to be heard in front of a jury, keeping juries the cornerstone of British justice.

This will mean the Justice Secretary can be fully focussed on fast-tracking the broader changes needed to drive down the record number of cases waiting years to be heard – fixing a crisis that is leaving too many victims in limbo before they see their perpetrator in the dock.

Millions will be invested in new technology to modernise the outdated courts and slash inefficiencies, judges will be given the resources they need to hear more cases, and vital structural reforms will deliver a court system fit for the 21st Century.

This will give magistrates the power to hand out longer sentences, meaning the courts can deal with cases quicker and get victims justice faster. 

Technical and lengthy fraud and financial offences will be allowed to be heard by a judge alone, freeing up jurors from the personal and financial burdens created by complex, months-long trials.

And courts will have the final say over where cases should be heard, preventing criminals accused of relatively minor crimes trying to game the system by electing a jury trial in an attempt to avoid prison.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said:  

This government inherited criminal courts on the brink of collapse, with victims waiting years for their day in court. I remain committed to bringing down the backlog and delivering swifter justice for those who so desperately need it. But I have heard the strength of feeling on the proposals for increasing the number of judge-alone trials in the Crown Court and have made the decision to change course.

This allows us to start that work far earlier, ensuring that under this Government we do not have victims waiting endlessly for justice.

Justice delayed is justice denied, and I am committed to maximising efficiencies in our system alongside record investment. I remain committed to structural reform which is crucial if we are to bring down the backlog.

The changes announced today will be made to the Courts and Tribunals Bill, due back in Parliament later this month.

When it returns, the government will also make a statutory commitment to consider any impacts of the structural reforms on ethnic minorities and people of different backgrounds, led by an independent reviewer. 

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC said: 

Justice delayed is justice denied. We must take action to bring down the backlog using every lever we have. That’s why we will set out, in our response to Lord Leveson’s report, the steps we are taking to make the courts more efficient.   

Whether that is using AI to support the listing of cases, rolling out further virtual hearings, or taking steps to ensure defendants arrive to court on time, we will turn the tide and deliver the swifter justice victims deserve.

Today’s announcement comes just weeks after new figures confirmed the backlog in the Crown Court had reached a record high. Nearly 81,000 cases are now stuck waiting for justice and of these almost a third had been waiting for a year or longer.  

No single measure can fix years of underinvestment and decades where the system has not kept up with the pace of change. That is why the government is doing all it can to get victims fairer, faster justice – long-term reform, underpinned by vital efficiency and record investment.  

Notes to editors:

• The Government will publish its full response to both parts of Lord Leveson’s review in the coming weeks.  
• The Bill will return to the House of Commons on 13 October.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 1 October 2026.

Offenders leaving prison from today will be monitored under the toughest supervision in British history, as new powers to restrict their movements come into force.

• World-first restriction zones will keep offenders in areas just a few miles wide
• Bans from pubs, clubs, football matches and public events
• A record number of offenders are being tagged, as Government rolls out biggest ever extension of tagging
• Victim-focused approach to justice will see national helpline for victims and trauma-focused local support services

Offenders leaving prison from today will be monitored under the toughest supervision in British history, as new powers to restrict their movements come into force.

The new tough new rules that will mean the prison gate is no longer where punishment ends, creating a prison in the community to protect the public and victims.

For the first time anywhere in the world, new restriction zones will tightly control the movements of the highest-risk sexual and violent offenders – confining many to an area just a few miles wide, keeping them away from those they have harmed and allowing victims to rebuild their lives without fear.

The biggest ever expansion of electronic monitoring in British history is also being rolled out with a new presumption that offenders will be electronically tagged and monitored when they leave prison. New technology rolling out this year will give probation near-live access to tagging data, helping probation staff spot breaches and act quickly when offenders step out of line.

Cracking down further still, offenders can also now be banned from pubs, clubs and public events like football matches to prevent disruption and harm to the community. From next year, the government is also launching random drug testing for thousands of offenders.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said:

Today we are introducing the toughest ever range of tools to control prison leavers and better protect the public.

We understand the anxiety victims face ahead of offenders release dates, but the greatest danger to victims would be prisons running out of cells for dangerous criminals which was the crisis this government inherited. 

Our plan will make sure this never happens again by building 14,000 prison places while subjecting offenders to the toughest ever controls – leaving them nowhere to hide and under no doubt that we are watching them.

This follows action by the Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor to block more of the most dangerous offenders from coming out of prison any earlier, including those serving time for manslaughter and death by drunk or dangerous driving.

Criminals locked up for rape, and serious and historic child sex offences such as grooming will also stay locked up. When these offenders are finally released, they will be subject to the highest levels of contact and oversight, including being forced to live in secure accommodation with strict curfews.

Under these changes, victims will be firmly at the front and centre of the justice system,  offered better practical and emotional support, thanks to a new helpline, operated by Victim Support, launching today. Local therapeutic support and victim advocacy will also be strengthened as part of an £18.9m cash injection, meaning victims can access the specialist help they need, when they need it.  

The government is also investing an unprecedented £550 million towards victim support services as part of its mission to halve violence against women and girls. This comes on top of £500m to give domestic abuse victims and their children safe accommodation, placing domestic abuse specialists in 999 call centres, and rolling out Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to protect victims.

Boosting victim protection comes after tis government inherited a prisons system in crisis. Adult male prisons are now at 98% capacity after more than decade of underinvestment when just 500 net spaces were added. That is why this government is fixing the broken prison system for good. This Government has delivered more than 3,300 prison places, part of a pledge to build 14,000 over the next five years.

This record prison-building programme will put prisons on a sustainable footing, keep cells available for dangerous criminals and end the cycle of emergency release measures used before July 2024.

From early next year, we will introduce a new power to deport some foreign criminals immediately after sentencing, blocking them from ever returning to the country, while keeping those in prison for the most serious crimes locked up for a substantial period before they are removed.

Notes to editors:

• We are investing a record £700 million investment in probation and community punishment, including £100 million to expand electronic monitoring and 1,300 additional probation staff to strengthen supervision and protect the public.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 28 September 2026.

Lord Chancellor Alex Norris announces action to tackle prison drones and drug use, and help offenders into work and stable accommodation.

• Technology firms to develop counter-drone solutions for prisons, while drug-free living units rolled out further across the estate.
• Construction skills programme and new digital service to help prisoners into work and accommodation on release.
• Tough and visible community payback projects nominated by local people will be prioritised.

New measures to improve prison security, tackle drug use and help offenders into work and stable accommodation have been announced by the Lord Chancellor today (28 September), as part of efforts to cut crime and reduce reoffending. 

The package includes the next phase of a £6.5 million UK Research Innovation investment to develop new tools to tackle drones around prisons. Technology firms are being invited to bid for a share of up to £900,000 to test new solutions that help protect staff and clamp down on the smuggling of contraband behind bars. 

There will also be an expansion of drug recovery units to a further 12 prisons, bringing the total to 100 across the estate. The specialist units help offenders address the substance abuse which often fuels their offending. 

The Lord Chancellor, Alex Norris, also set out plans to get more offenders into work and stable accommodation to reduce reoffending. A new skills programme will link offender training directly to jobs and work experience in the construction sector with offenders helping build the new homes the country needs, while a new digital service will ensure staff can find suitable housing for prison leavers more easily.

Changes to Community Payback will also place greater priority on tough, visible projects nominated by local people such as cleaning graffiti and improving public spaces, ensuring offenders make a clearer contribution to the communities they’ve harmed. 

Tackling drones around prisons

Technology companies will be invited to develop and test new ways of tackling drones around prisons.  

This follows £35 million announced in June to strengthen security at our most at-risk prisons, including heavy duty window grilles, helping stop drones being used to smuggle drugs, weapons and phones that fuel violence behind bars. 

There were 1,497 recorded drone incidents at prisons in England and Wales in the year to March 2026. 

Expanding substance-free living in prisons

Incentivised Substance-Free Living units will be expanded to a further 12 prisons by the end of 2027/28, helping tackle drug use, build sustainable recovery and improve safety in prisons. 

The units provide dedicated accommodation for prisoners who commit to living without illicit drugs, with regular drug testing and support to help them remain substance-free and where needed build sustainable recovery for example through access to Mutual Aid organisations. 

Incentivised Substance-Free Living units are not the only places that people can access drug treatment and recovery services in prison, but they are dedicated spaces in prisons for those who are committed to living drug free and or are committing to their recovery from addiction.

They are currently funded in 88 prisons, with research showing prisoners on effectively run units were more than 30% less likely to be involved in violence, self-harm or disorder. 

Connecting prison training with construction jobs

The Future Skills Programme will be expanded to strengthen the pathway of prison leavers into construction jobs, with around 750 prisoners expected to benefit. Training and work experience will be designed for the sector, while new Construction Academies will have direct links with employers in the community.

Employers and training providers will equip prisoners with skills needed by the sector and provide opportunities for eligible prisoners to gain work experience on Release on Temporary Licence, subject to risk assessment, and move into jobs after release.

Evidence shows ex-prisoners with a job are up to nine percentage points less likely to reoffend. In the year to March 2026, 36.5% of prison leavers were in work six months after release.

Prioritising visible Community Payback

Greater priority will be given to the tough and visible Community Payback projects nominated by the public, while strengthening opportunities for offenders to gain recognition for the skills they develop through unpaid work 

People can already nominate projects through GOV.UK, including graffiti removal, litter picking, clearing wasteland and improving public spaces. A new framework will provide a consistent approach to prioritising this work across England and Wales. 

More than 1.1 million hours of Community Payback were completed in the three months to December 2025 – up 5% on the same period a year earlier. 

Plans are being developed to train supervisors as NVQ assessors so the skills offenders gain  through unpaid work can earn nationally recognised qualifications whilst paying back their communities, helping improve their employment prospects. 

Improving access to accommodation

A new digital system, Find and Manage Accommodation, will be rolled out nationally, giving prison and probation staff a single digital service to help them find suitable accommodation and support for offenders. 

Having somewhere stable to live is closely linked to reducing reoffending: the latest published evidence shows adult offenders with no accommodation on release had a reoffending rate almost twice that of those with accommodation – 72% compared with 38%. 

In the year to March 2026, 83% of prison leavers were housed on the night following release.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 21 September 2026.

Victims of rape and sexual offences will get the justice they deserve, as their cases take priority and new specialist courts are rolled out across England and Wales, the Prime Minister has announced today.

• Courtrooms for specialist rape and serious sex offences to be rolled out across every Crown Court in England and Wales
• Rape cases will be prioritised in the courts, tackling uncertainty and delays for survivors, with specialist upgrades introduced, including private waiting rooms and entrances for victims
• New approach will put victims front and centre of the criminal justice system

Backed by a multi-million cash injection, every Crown Court in England and Wales will get at least one courtroom especially set up to hear rape and serious sexual offence cases over the next two years, helping to hold more perpetrators to account.

Transforming how the justice system treats the survivors of some of the most serious crimes, the changes are designed to encourage more victims to come forward, providing them with private entrances and waiting rooms as well as facilities equipped to pre-record evidence and observe sentencing remotely.  

Rape and serious sexual offence cases will also now be prioritised in courts. These trials will be given a fixed date as opposed to being placed on floating lists where they can be moved at short notice and delayed by many months.

For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt they were navigating a system that did not consider their needs for tailored support. In 2025, rape cases took an average of 424 days to complete once they reached the Crown Court, with too many victims withdrawing before their case was heard.

Today’s changes will mean victims get better support and face fewer delays, as the government continues to take decisive action to tackle violence against women and girls and deliver the justice that victims deserve.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham said:

For too long, victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt let down by our justice system. Prosecution rates for rape remain shamefully low, with many victims waiting years for justice.

This is not good enough. That’s why we are making major changes to rebalance the scales of justice and put victims first. This includes rolling out specialist courtrooms for rape and serious sex offences.

These changes are long overdue and will make a significant difference, but focusing on prosecution alone will not be enough. So as well as ensuring victims get justice, we will step up action to prevent these horrific crimes from happening in the first place.

Lord Chancellor Alex Norris said:

Victims of rape and serious sexual offences have felt they’ve been left alone facing the criminal justice system for too long. They have been treated as cases to process and not as people to support.

The funding we are announcing today will provide that support that victims deserve – delivering courtrooms that are designed with victim needs in mind and providing specialist training for staff to handle these cases with care.

Real action to improve our courts. Real action for victims. Real action to deliver the justice they deserve.

The changes announced today will also see all court staff get trauma-informed training and a trial to give victims of sex offences a single point of contact to ensure their needs are met during the court process. The new measures also include a new Rape Justice Taskforce, drawing leaders from across the criminal justice system to tackle the rising rate of postponed rape trials and confront the myths that cause victims to withdraw from their own cases.

The changes follow Charlotte Nichols showing immense strength and bravery in coming forward to tell her own story, calling for these crucial measures to support victims and ensure they receive the justice they deserve.

Ciara Bergman, CEO of Rape Crisis England & Wales says:

This important package of measures represents a significant step forward for our justice system, and includes many of the reforms that Rape Crisis England & Wales have been calling for over many years. Taken together, they reflect the urgency of ensuring that courts are fit for purpose and properly meet the needs of victims and survivors, which is crucial to securing justice.

We’re particularly pleased to see measures that will improve trial efficiency and ensure survivors are better able to participate in, and observe, proceedings. The recognition that suitable separate waiting areas, entrances and exits are essential to prevent survivors from being intimidated and distressed by the presence of perpetrators and their supporters is also significant. This welcome change is both necessary and long overdue.

Today’s announcement builds on the Government’s pledge to halve violence against women and girls in a decade and make sure the justice system put victims front and centre.

Earlier this month, the Prime Minister announced that by the end of 2027, all police forces in England and Wales will have dedicated rape and sexual offence investigation teams, helping to make sure more criminal cases are prosecuted. 

Since coming into office, the government has pledged over £1 billion to support victims of violence against women and girls, announced plans to place domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms across every police force in England and Wales, and is rolling out new Domestic Abuse Protection Orders to provide victims with protection for as long as needed.

The government has also committed to use every lever at its disposal to drive down the backlog of victims waiting years for justice through the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which is set to return to Parliament in October.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 26 August 2026.

Serious sexual and violent offenders could be confined to areas just a few miles wide after leaving prison under a world-first crackdown, launching in October to give victims greater freedom.

• Dangerous offenders could be confined to small areas just a few miles wide 
• Scheme to curb offenders’ freedom while giving victims greater peace of mind 
• Victims will have a say in setting boundaries, helping them live without fear 
• GPS tagging to track offenders’ movements, with the risk of recall to prison

New “restriction zones” will allow probation services in England and Wales to severely limit where some of the most dangerous offenders can go for as long as they see fit – restricting their freedom while giving it back to victims.

The first measure of its kind anywhere in the world, the new restrictions have been directly shaped by the experiences and campaigning of victims, who will have a say in how individual zones are drawn up.

The new scheme is a more rigorous version of “exclusion zones”, which ban offenders from specific locations such as a victim’s home or place of work.

Offenders can instead be confined to a tightly defined area, giving victims greater freedom to travel without the fear of unexpectedly coming face-to-face with their offender.

Offenders subject to GPS monitoring can have their movements tracked around the clock, allowing probation to identify breaches and take swift action when the rules are broken – including recalling them to prison.

Probation officers will draw up zones which will put victims first, giving them the freedom to go about their daily lives without fear, but ensure offenders can still access vital appointments and services that help to reduce their chances of reoffending.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Alex Norris, said:

No victim should fear the shadow of an abuser on their back.

That’s why we’re putting limits on dangerous offenders, confining them to tightly controlled areas and giving victims greater freedom to get on with their lives.

And with GPS technology helping probation keep track of offenders’ movements, those who step outside the boundaries can be quickly identified and face being sent back to prison.

It is simple: offenders should carry the consequences of their crimes, not their victims.

The zones can last for as long as they are needed to manage the risk posed by offenders on licence, with reviews taking place at least every three months.

Further details on eligibility will be announced in due course. The Government will work closely with victims’ groups and other stakeholders as this measure is rolled out to ensure it is operating as intended.

Hard-working probation staff play a vital role in keeping the public safe, that is why the government is investing £700 million in probation and community services by 2028/29.

This includes the biggest ever expansion of electronic monitoring and recruiting 1,300 new probation officers this year on top of the 2,300 recruited in the past two years, keeping serious offenders under closer watch and better protecting victims.

Public safety will always be the government’s priority. Last week, the Justice Secretary confirmed he was fast-tracking a plan to keep more of the most dangerous offenders behind bars, on top of murderers and those serving sentences for rape, serious child sexual abuse and grooming offences who are already blocked from any changes to their release dates. 

This will include the faster deportation of foreign criminals, better use of the women’s estate and reviewing the unjust IPP sentences. He is expected to update Parliament in early September.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 21 August 2026.

Rape Crisis England & Wales awarded £8.7m government funding to provide round-the-clock confidential support for survivors and victims of sexual violence.

• Rape Crisis England & Wales awarded £8.7m government funding
• Service to provide round-the-clock specialist and confidential support for survivors and victims of sexual violence
• Part of Government’s commitment to halve violence against women and girls and ensure swifter justice for victims

Victims-survivors of rape and sexual abuse will get 24/7 support through a free, trauma-informed, confidential helpline thanks to new Government funding.

The Ministry of Justice has announced it has awarded £8.7 million to Rape Crisis England & Wales to continue their vital around-the-clock Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line.

Free to use, the helpline offers confidential emotional and listening support to all victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse aged 16 and over.

Since it launched in 2022, the service has supported survivors through more than 200,000 calls and 75,000 webchats.

This funding reflects the Government’s commitment to tackle these horrendous crimes and support victims.

Minister Victims and Violence Against Women and Girls, Alex Davies-Jones said: 

I’ve heard far too many devastating stories from traumatised survivors of rape and sexual assault who felt lost or unsure where to turn for support. 

I want to say to everyone affected by one of these horrendous crimes, the Rape Crisis helpline team is always there – to listen to you, believe you and answer your questions. 

We’re honoured to be able to continue to support their invaluable work and I’d like to thank everyone in the team for their dedication to supporting survivors.

Ciara Bergman, Rape Crisis England & Wales CEO said:

I’m delighted that Rape Crisis England & Wales will continue to provide the national 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line, delivering confidential, free and specialist support for thousands of survivors throughout England and Wales.

The service’s success, and the volume of survivors we’ve already provided with high-quality, trusted support, are testament to the dedication and expertise of the Rape Crisis movement. Our partners, support line staff and volunteers work tirelessly to ensure that whenever the time is right, no matter who they are or when it happened, someone will be there to listen, believe and support them.

Helpline specialists can also help direct victim-survivors towards long-term support services, whether they have told anyone about the crime or not. The new funding will support Rape Crisis to develop the service further, including by introducing British Sign Language Interpretation and providing dedicated support for survivors with different needs.

The Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor have also barred rape, certain child sex and other grooming offences from upcoming changes to prison sentences, protecting the public from these dangerous criminals.

The changes mean rape and certain child sexual offences will be added to the exclusions that are already in place for 18,000 offenders, including those who have been found by a court to be the most dangerous or anyone serving a life sentence.

The Government is also injecting more than half a billion pounds into vital support services to help victims and witnesses through the justice process. This will see a £550 million investment over the next three years into specialist services that offer practical and emotional support to victims and witnesses, such as counselling and advice on attending court.

Further information

• Rape Crisis England &Wales’s 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line is for anyone aged 16 and over in England and Wales who has been affected by rape, child sexual abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, or any other form of sexual violence – at any point in their life. You can contact the service at any time, day or night, all year round, on 0808 500 2222.
• The new grant funding will run from 1 October 2026 – 30 September 2029.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 29 July 2026.

Ruth Evans has been appointed as the new Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board.

The Chair of the Criminal Legal Aid Advisory Board (CLAAB) provides independent leadership and strategic direction to the Board.

The Chair advises the Lord Chancellor on the operation and future development of criminal legal aid schemes, ensuring they are structured to support a high-performing justice system. The role involves steering discussions on market sustainability, data needs, and the impact of policy changes, as well as overseeing reports, recommendations and representing the Board externally.

Ruth Evans has been appointed the second chair of CLAAB and succeeds HH Deborah Taylor, who led the Board from 2023 to 2026. Ruth’s tenure will begin on 1 September and run for three years.

Biography

Ruth Evans has 40 years’ experience championing the public and consumer interest.

She is the Founding Chair of Stop Scams UK. Throughout her career, she has chaired a range of public interest bodies, including the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, the Bar Standards Board and the Authority for Television on Demand. Ruth has also held posts as a non-Executive Director within the National Audit Office, the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the Serious Fraud Office.

We welcome the wealth of experience that Ruth brings to the role and look forward to the CLAAB continuing its important work to support and improve criminal legal aid.

Notes

The CLAAB was first established in October 2022 and meets quarterly. The membership currently includes representatives from the Bar Council, the Law Society of England and Wales, Criminal Bar Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association, Chartered Institute of Legal Executives (CILEX), Young Legal Aid Lawyers, Young Barrister Committee, Crown Prosecution Service, the Legal Aid Agency and Ministry of Justice officials.

The press release issued by the Ministry of Justice on 7 July 2026.

Children in youth custody will be better protected through stronger safeguarding, dedicated social workers, tougher vetting and independent oversight.

• Dedicated social workers to investigate abuse concerns
• Stronger staff vetting, improved training and new unit to oversee child protection
• Part of Government action to make sure horrors of historical abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre are not repeated

Children in youth custody settings will be better protected from abuse under major safeguarding reforms announced by the Government today (7 July). 

Set out by the Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice Jake Richards, the new measures include stronger staff training, tougher vetting for anyone working directly with children and overhauled safeguarding processes to ensure all allegations of wrongdoing are investigated robustly and acted upon swiftly. 

Central to the reforms will be a requirement for every site in the youth estate to have access to a dedicated social worker with extensive child protection expertise. This means no serious concern can be ignored or handled only internally. It also gives each child a trusted, independent person they can turn to if something is wrong. 

Today’s intervention comes in direct response to an independent review into youth custody safeguarding arrangements published today by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England. The Government commissioned the review following a report into the horrific abuse that took place at Medomsley Detention Centre, Co. Durham, between 1961 and 1987.  

Ministers have now accepted all 34 of Ms Trowler’s recommendations in principle, with several already implemented to ensure children in custody receive the best possible protection and the systemic failures at Medomsley are never repeated. 

This action builds on the Government’s Youth Justice White Paper published in May, which seeks to provide earlier intervention, more targeted support and tackle the root causes of youth crime.  

Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice, Jake Richards, said:     

The abuse that took place at Medomsley is a national scandal and it is right that the Government has apologised. While we cannot undo the pain suffered by victims, we can make sure nothing like it ever happens again. 

That is why we’re taking forward all 34 recommendations, including independent oversight of every abuse allegation, giving every child in custody access to a social worker, and strengthening staff vetting to keep children in custody safe. 

A system that fails to protect children in custody creates more victims, not fewer. These reforms are about breaking that cycle.

Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families for England, said:     

Following on from the Ombudsman’s important report last year into the Medomsley Detention Centre, my review examined the safeguarding challenges that persist across the youth custodial estate. I make a number of recommendations which make clear the urgent action required to better protect some of our most vulnerable children. While there have been improvements in recent years, the evidence is unequivocal: more must be done to ensure every child in custody is safe, listened to and treated with dignity. It is now incumbent upon the Government and, in turn, HMPPS and local authority children’s services to make change happen. 

Meeting children currently in custody and hearing directly about their experiences has been both a privilege and a profound responsibility. This experience, and the stories children shared, will likely stay with me forever. We owe it to them, and to those who suffered in the past, to ensure that the findings of this review lead to meaningful and lasting change.

The courage and determination of the survivors of Medomsley in their pursuit of truth and justice was instrumental to this work. Without them, the vulnerability of today’s children in custody would not have been brought into sharp relief.

Adrian Usher, Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, said: 

My investigative report revealed the full scale and horror of what happened to thousands of victims at Medomsley Detention Centre. The abuse that took place there was a profound failure by those responsible for the care and protection of children and young people in custody. 

I welcome the Government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations from the Trowler Review and strengthening safeguarding across the youth estate. While nothing can undo the harm suffered by victims, these reforms are an important step towards ensuring lessons of the past are learned and that children in custody are better protected in the future.

Meanwhile, a new safeguarding board has been set up to monitor child protection across all youth custody sites, reporting directly to Ministers. All staff working with children in custody must now also complete mandatory safeguarding training, and enhanced criminal record checks will be renewed every three years.  

Recruitment processes have also been strengthened to better root out unsuitable candidates, with training for frontline staff being redesigned to better meet the needs of vulnerable children. 

Further action announced today includes: 

• Under the new system, a trusted adult, such as a family member, advocate or social worker, will be able to raise a complaint on a child’s behalf. 
• Welcome packs and information given to children on arrival will be redesigned so that children with reading difficulties or learning differences can understand their rights from day one. 
• The Government will take forward plans to give all children in custody the same formal protections as children in care. This will require new legislation, but in the meantime social workers will proactively check in with children and provide a safe, private space to raise any concerns. 
• A new National Practice Framework will set clear, consistent standards for how all staff working with children in custody should behave, train and develop in their careers. 
• A formal learning review process at the heart of how the Youth Custody Service approaches safeguarding, ensuring continuous improvement. 
• A review of policies, with a focus on those that do not account for the needs of children. 

The Government has apologised unreservedly to the men who suffered shocking and systematic abuse at Medomsley Detention Centre. 

The youth custodial estate today bears little resemblance to the one in which the abuse took place, with children no longer detained for less serious offences and the number of children in custody having fallen significantly in the last 20 years.  

However, the Government is determined that those who do require custody receive the best care and support they need to turn their lives around. 

Today’s announcement comes ahead of a Youth Custody Transformation Plan later this year, setting out the long-term vision for a safer system which rehabilitates children, reduces crime and protects communities. 

Notes to editors 

• The Trowler Review was commissioned by the Minister for Sentencing and Youth Justice and led by Isabelle Trowler, Chief Social Worker for Children and Families in England. 
• The review makes 34 recommendations for the Ministry of Justice, the Youth Custody Service, the Department for Education, and other government partners. All recommendations are being accepted in principle. 
• The youth custodial estate comprises Young Offender Institutions, Secure Training Centres, Secure Children’s Homes and the Secure School, Oasis Restore. As health, social care and education are devolved in Wales, the majority of the actions set out in the response relate to England. 
• The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman report into Medomsley Detention Centre was published in November 2025 and examined abuse that occurred at the centre between 1961 and 1987.